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Article: Mazda Protege lacked only marketing power
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- August 8, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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Mazda has made its often overlooked but highly rated subcompact
Protege sedan faster and sportier for 2001, with hopes that the car
will steal sales from rivals such as the more mainstream Honda Civic.
This review originally appeared Feb. 4, 2001. The average retail
price of a 2001 Mazda Protege is $6,750-$7,975.
While roomy and refined, even the 2000 Protege was sportier than
many competitors, with sharper handling and an edgier feel.
The front-drive Protege is Mazda's top-selling model, with about
65,000 annually bought in this country. It traces its heritage to the
1977 GLC two-door hatchback that turned around Mazda's fortunes here;
the first Mazda to carry the Protege nameplate came in ...